[Jim]

Project Rifles

Plans change I was going to go through this Interarms Mauser. And turn it into a custom rifle. I'm still going to fix it up. Just not going top shelf with it. I like to turn Mausers into custom rifles. With the Interarms it's just not a Mauser to dump a lot of cash into. I would much rather do up a 1909 Argintine Mauser. Here is where I'm at now. I picked a a new stock from a Remington 798 which is the same basic Mauser. It's a laminated stock no big deal for a spare rifle. I will put the Interarms in the Remington stock. I will refinish the rifle with a satin blue finish. I polished the bolt and bolt sleeve. I will leave that high polished. For a chrome look. It should turn into a fairly nice rifle. I was going to swap out the side slide safety to a true Mauser one. Another cost issue. A nice three way swing safety is about $230 Plus a new trigger group. I would be looking at $350 for that. That is just the parts & doing the work myself. And in the end it will still be an Interarms. I'll save those goodies for a 1909 Mauser. The first pic shows the barrel was rusted and pitted that is fixed. The second picture is where I'm at now waiting on the new stock. The last pic is a picture of the Remington stock that I will use. The rifle will look close to the last picture. With the exception of a satin finish. With a set of of necg custom sights. After I fit the rifle to the new stock. If I'm lucky it should just drop in. I will send it off for the blue satin finish. When I'm done with it I'll post a pic of the before and after. I'm not a fan of laminated stocks. But for this one it will be an improvement. Over the stock that is on it now. I have a spare Leupold 3x9 for the rifle and some nice Warne bases & Talley ring. It should all work out and I'll have a spare 30/06.

 

[SaxonPig]

Pretty wood.

I had no idea that a Remington stock could fit an Interarms Mauser.

 

[bmcgilvray]

That'll be a great shooting rifle and .30-06 is my favorite. Those are really good rifles in my view. I have one in 7X57.

I reworked a previously sporterized P'14 that had been rechambered to .303 ICL Improved by P.O. Ackley back in the late 1950s. The stock was a heavy, garish cherrywood affair with a huge rollover comb and Weatherby style fore arm tip from Herters. I reworked it into a more subdued classic style. Here's the gun next to a M1917 which resembles the P'14 perfectly.

.303 ICL Improved case beside a standard .303 cartridge. One ends up with a rifle that can propel a 150 grain bullet to 3000 fps, in effect a .31-06.

I've built up a couple of 1903s into sporters, leaving them in .30-06 and also built a .375 H&H Magnum on a M1917 action in years gone by. Currently I have two actions squirreled away. One is a 98 Mauser in the VZ 24 variation and the other is a double heat treat Model 1903. I'm thinking of some sort of non magnum 6.5 for the Mauser and a .358 Winchester for the '03.

I love Smith & Wesson revolvers as my favorite handguns but my first love is rifles.

 

[Jim]

Hi Brian
Nice rifles. I'm still plugging away on the interarms. Plans change again. I dropped the barrel off at the gunsmith. I'm going to have him cut it down to 21". That way I clean up the end of the barrel. I had to cut 3" off. To remove the old sight holes. I will use screw plugs in the rear sight holes. No biggie the deer won't know the barrel is only 21". It should make for a nice (loud) short carry rifle. At least I do not have to worry about a front sight. I'm putting a scope on it. When I'm done I'll post some pix.

 

[onenut58]

You do some nice work.The laminated stock looks realy good gives the mouser a modern look.The shorter barrel will give it a carbine look.Best thing about those old mausers is they look nice just about any way you want to customize them.As well as being strong accurate guns.Over the years they sure have been chambered and built into a miriad of different styles and uses.I have seen some realy beautiful examples that rival any guns built.

 

[Jim]

Hi Onenut58

Maybe I will be able to shoot the rifle by the weekend. The stock should arrive in a day or two. The barrel work will be done on Friday. The rifle will not be refinished. At least I can bolt it all up. Then test fit everything. On the weekend I will find out how good or bad it shoots. Then I'll take the rifle apart and send it off for a refinish. These Mausers can be made into a nice rifle. This one will be a spare rifle. I have a few 30/06 in other barrel lengths. So I figure a 21" would be nice. Most of my 30/06 are 24 inch. I have a couple in 22". Now I have a 21 inch. It was cheaper to cut and crown the barrel. I had to have three inches cut off the barrel. To clean up the the holes from the old front sight. It had a 24" barrel. Now it's a 21 inch.
Vice new steel sights. I would be looking at $250+ just for some nice sights. It hits a point of no return. In for a penny in for a pound. I want to keep this project a low cost fix up. I'll save the high end stuff for another rifle. I have some others in work. I have some spare sights, stocks and new barrels. I just have to sort things out. When I'm done I'll post a pic.
Thanks
Jim

 

[Jim]

I'm still plugging away at this mauser. So far so good. The barrel has been cut back to 21" with a new crown. I have it in the new stock. I need to glass bed the recoil lug area. It took a little fitting to get it in the stock. I'm too lazy today to finish it up.
Jim

 

[bmcgilvray]

Thanks for updating your Mauser project, Jim.

The barrel doesn't look so short in that shot. A good looking, practical rifle. Makes me want to go to the range this afternoon but I have a dinner engagement.

 

[Jim]

Hi Brian
It's getting close for me to send the rifle off to have it blued. I like to save that for the last thing to do. Here's a liitle better pic. The pic shows the shorter barrel and a pic of the new crown. The rifle has a nice balance in hand. It should be fine for beating around the woods.
Jim

 

[bmcgilvray]

I think that crown job is really classy.

 

[Jim]

The gunsmith does nice work. I also like the recessed crown. When I work with a new to me rifle. I always have a new crown cut. At least that way. I can rule out if the barrel is good or bad. I try to make the rifle as accurate as possible.
Jim

 

[jimg11]

The only gun that I ever put together (with Help). I stopped by a local shop and the manager said " I have just what you need." He hauled out a Siam Mauser Barreled action with a short heavy 45-70 Barrel. No sights or drilling . the safety was not modified and the bolt handle stuck out straight. The price was right. I also bought a 7mm Mauser with a nice Redfield Scope for the scope which was worth more than the mauser. It took me a few years before I sent the the barreled action to a pro gunsmith to bend the bolt handle, replace the safety and drill and tap for a scope. I put on the Redfield 2.75 Widefield scope and sold the 7mm for almost what I had paid for it and the now missing scope. The gunsmith bill was twice what I had into the barreled action. A 90% stock blank from Bishop was all that was left to do. I did not know that the 90% ment 90 % of a tree but it all came together and turned out pretty nice. :-bd :ymapplause:

 

[bmcgilvray]

"I did not know that the 90% ment 90 % of a tree but it all came together and turned out pretty nice."

This is funny!

How does that boltie .45-70 shoot? That looks interesting.

 

[jimg11]

"I did not know that the 90% ment 90 % of a tree but it all came together and turned out pretty nice."

This is funny!

How does that boltie .45-70 shoot? That looks interesting.

It shoots really nice. I loaded it up so the 405 gr bullets moved out in the 1800 to 2000 fps range and it walked back into my shoulder with a considerable amount of steam. With factory 45-70 rounds it is a dream to shoot. If the Buffalo get too populated around here I have just the thing to thin out the herds. :lol:

 

[Jim]

Hi jimg11
Nice job fixing up your rifle. I hear you semi inletted stock leave a lot to be desired. I bedded the recoil lug and two inches of the barrel. I have to let to dry up for a day. Then I’ll se how it turned out. This is where I'm at now. Waiting for the epoxy to cure. The 45/70 is a great round.
Jim